How to make your house ready for Halloween

Written by Engel & Völkers on 10/27/16

Double, double, toil and trouble – it's that time of year again. As Halloween reminds us that it really is autumn, homeowners everywhere will be reaching for their scariest home decor. However you choose to celebrate the holiday, surely one of the real joys of Halloween is the opportunity to transform our houses into sets from our favourite horror movies.

Here, we take a tentative peek at a horrific handful of easy DIY projects to help get your home in shape for Halloween. Whether you're having friends over for some creepy cocktails or are just eager to give the kids a fright, these simple hacks are sure to do the trick (or treat).

Spooky squashes

Putting pumpkins out on the lawn and in the windows is the classic starting point for Halloween decor. This one isn't optional – it's a must. Not only are they superb decorations, it's also a lot of fun helping the kids carve their most imaginative scary faces.

Pumpkins are widely available in shops during the weeks leading up to Halloween. If you're one for planning ahead, they're also easy to grow, but you'll need to plant the seeds in spring in order to have a good sized one come Halloween. Ornamental gourds are a good alternative if you fancy something different.

Paint it black

Halloween decor isn't all about making your home look scary from the outside. The inside is just as important, particularly if you're having friends over for a party. One easy way to transform your home into a Halloween hovel is to colour a few everyday items black.

Look to everything from candles to flowers – anything decorative will work. If you're having people over for food, consider using black napkins and a black centrepiece for the table.

Make some mini monsters

Pebble monsters are a superb way to entertain the kids in the weeks leading up to Halloween. All you need to do is find a few large pebbles and equip your children with paints, brushes and maybe a few googly eyes for good measure. Just make sure you put down some newspaper before they get creating!

When dry, place your homemade Halloween decor just outside the front door to give a little spook to any unwitting trick or treaters.

Vamp up your lighting

Ask any professional photographer – a bit of lighting can work wonders. Changing up your outdoor lighting can be the quickest and easiest type of Halloween decoration. We don't mean purchasing reams of special lights either – consider something as simple as adding eerie filters to your existing lights, or simply swapping in a red bulb.

Creating a walkway of lanterns leading up to your door adds a real element of spookiness. It also helps guide the little ghosts and vampires right to your door. Try it for yourself by buying some plain paper lanterns and adding your own spooky designs.

Finding your dream home should never be as frightening as your Halloween decor. At Engel & Völkers, we make it easy. Visit our website for a look at our exclusive luxury properties worldwide.